Everett Eugene Hartenstein (Gene), the son of F.T. (Ted) and Mildred Mastin Hartenstein, was born on a farm in Dickinson County, Kansas July 26, 1930, and went to be with the Lord on January 4, 2025 having attained the age of 94 1/2 years.
He attended the county schools and graduated from Dickinson County Community High School in 1948. He was united in marriage to Dorothy Ann Heller in Abilene, Kansas August 5, 1951. They celebrated their 73rd anniversary on August 5, 2024. To this union, 3 children were born. In the early years of their marriage, Gene drove a milk truck for Westside Dairy in Junction City, as well as farming in the Talmage, and then Industry areas of Dickinson County. Following a move to the Buckeye community area in 1964, Gene and Dorothy continued farming and raising cattle and hogs for many years, as well as being a bus driver for Chapman School District. During the 1990s, Gene also worked at ABB in Enterprise in the assembly shop. In 2020, Gene and Dorothy left farming after 68 years, and moved to a home in Chapman, Kansas where he continued to “farm” in his yard by planting, cultivating, propagating, and care taking the many flowers and shrubs he planted. Gene loved his family, farming, raising livestock, visiting with neighbors and friends, and pick-up trucks – this is a love he shared and passed on to his son, Brad, as well as his grandsons, Michael and Brant! One of Gene’s all time favorite things was sitting around the kitchen table at the farm during “break time” and snacking with the kids/grandkids that happened to have stopped by at just the right time to enjoy a Dr. Pepper and a snack with Grandpa and Grandma.
Gene was a long-time member of the Industry evangelical United Brethren Church where he and Dorothy were the youth fellowship leaders for many years. They later attended the Chapman Methodist Church, and in most recent years have been regular attendees as well as members of Emmanuel Church in Abilene.
A kind and friendly Christian man, an honorable man, a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great grandfather, uncle and friend, he is survived by his wife, Dorothy, two daughters, Jean Book (Glenn) of Abilene, Nancy McMaster (John) of Wichita, Kansas; and one son, Brad Hartenstein (Judy) of Manhattan, Kansas; one brother, Wilbur Hartenstein (Joyce) of Oregon; two sisters-in-law, Joanne Hartenstein and Carolee Hartenstein, both of Wichita, Kansas; seven grandchildren, Michael Ade (Christal), Shannon Krueger (Cody), Brian McMaster, Sarah Stalder (Cole), Brant Hartenstein (Jaimee), Traci Keefer (Case), and Austin McMaster; 10 great-grandchildren, Brittany Steede (Derek), Rachel Duer, Brynna Ade, Avery Baer, Josie Baer, Braylea Hartenstein, Ava Brown, Sam Krueger, Wade Krueger, and King Keefer, and one great-great granddaughter, Calliope Elizabeth Steede, plus 3 Bonus grandchildren, Cris (Kerri) Adams, Aaron (Michele) Adams, Lindsay (Matt) Bulk, and 4 Bonus great-grandchildren, Cooper Adams, Kennedy Adams, Olivia Adams, Brynlee Bulk, as well as many nephews and nieces.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Mildred Hartenstein; brothers Ted (Theodore Arthur) Hartenstein and Robert Hartenstein, and his sister, Francis Burdick.
Gene’s home-going service is scheduled for 2:00 P.M., Saturday, January 18, at the Emmanuel Church in Abilene, the reverend Marc Riegel officiating. Family will receive friends from 1:00 P.M. until service time. A private family burial will be held at later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Irish Foundation (Class of 1948 scholarship fund) or Emmanuel Church. Memorials may be dropped off or mailed to Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home, 414 NW Third St., Abilene, Kansas 67410. Online condolences may be sent to www.martinbeckercarlson.com